Ioana is eleven years old and part of a large family. Her sisters Andreea and Daniela are also in the scholarship program. They all live together with their mother and grandparents in a three room apartment in Cluj. 

The parents divorced in 2009 because the father was addicted to alcohol and he was abusive towards the entire family. In recent years the situation worsened and the father received a restraining order, that prevents him from entering the street where the family is living. Due to the stress the grandfather developed diabetes, which led to the amputation of both his legs. Her brother Septimiu was diagnosed with leukaemia and passed away.

Currently, the family fully relies on social support. The mother went back to school in order to finish her high school studies.

Ioana is in 4th grade of the "Ion Agarbiceanu" school in Cluj. Ioana is a very good student and her teacher encourages her to study further. She finished school with grade 10/10 and she had never been absent from classes. She likes reading, playing with dolls and drawing.